Coupling for whiffletrees.



No. 804,892. PATENTED NOV. 14, 1905.

A. W. GILOHRIST.

COUPLING FOR WHIFFLETREES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 1906.

Witnesses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

COUPLING FOR WHIFFLETREES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 20,1905. Serial No. 266,092.

To a w/wnt it nanny con/corn Be it known that I, ANDREW W. GILcHRIsT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Edgewood, in the county of Clayton and State of ,Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Couplings forWhiflietrees; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to couplings for whiffletrees; and its object is to provide a durable and compact device of this character which will securely fasten a whiflietree to its support without the necessity of forming an opening therethrough and thereby weakening it.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of a base-plate adapted to be connected to the support of the whiflietree, and this base-plate has an extension at one end provided with a head adapted to project through an aperture formed in one end of a top strap. This strap is formed so as to overlap a whifiietree'after the same has been placed upon the base, and when one end of the strap is secured to the base it is impossible to withdraw the head of the extension from the aperture.

The invention also consists of means for preventing longitudinal movement of the whiffletree within the coupling.

The invention also consists of the further novel constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the preferred form of my invention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a doubletree connected to a tongue by means of my improved coupling and also showing a modifiedform of coupling upon the doubletree for connecting a swingletree thereto, said swingletree being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is an enlarged central longitudinal section through the coupling of the doubletree. Fig. 3 is a perspective view thereof, and Fig. 4 isa central longitudinal section through a swingletree-coupling.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 is a supporting-plate adapted to be secured in any suitable manner upon the tongue 2 of a vehicle, and extending through the rear portion of this plate is a pivot-bolt 3, which engages one end of a base-plate 4, which is adapted to swing upon the supporting-plate 1. An extension 5 is formed integral with one end of the base-plate 4c and extends at right angles therefrom. This extension hasan inwardly-extending lug 6, and disposed upon the upper edge of the extension is a hookshaped head 7, which projects laterally from said extension. This head is adapted to project through an aperture 8, formed adjacent one end of a strap 9, which is so shaped as to fit over and back of a doubletree 10, located upon the base-plate 1. The rear 'end of the strap has a lateral extension 11, adapted to be fastened to the base 4 by means of a screw 12. It will be understood that by placing a doubletree upon the base and forcing it into engagement with lug 6 and then inclining the strap 9 so as to permit head 7 to enter the aperture 8 said strap can be subsequently swung downward over the doubletree and secured by means of the screw 12. The doubletree will therefore be held securely against movement.

Where a swingletree is to be connected to the doubletree, I preferably form the supporting-plate with an integral downward-extending strap 13, having a base 1 1 interposed between it and the base-plate. Lugs 15 extend inwardly from the free ends of the base-plate and the strap 13 and are adapted to overlap the forward edge of a doubletree, as shown in Fig. 1. An upward extension 16 is formed at the rear end of the supporting-plate shown 'in position upon the end of the doubletree in Fig. 1. An ear 17 projects from this extension, and the base 18 extends between itand the supporting-plate, while the strap 19 is mounted on the ear 17, and said strap as well as the base are fastened to the ear 17 and the supporting-plate by means of a pivot-bolt 20. This modification has been shown in section in Fig. i and is particularly adapted for connecting swingletrees to doubletrees.

It will be seen that this coupling is very simple and inexpensive in construction, durable, and readily applied. It does not necessitate perforating the whifiietree, and there is no danger whatever of the parts becoming detached.-

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Patented Nov. 14, 1905.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device ofthe character described the combination with a pivoted base having a headed extension at one end, of a retainingstrap having an aperture for the reception of the head, and means for securing the strap to the base.

2. In a device of the character described the combination with a base having a headed extension at one end and a whifiietree-engaging projection upon the extension; of a retaining-strap having an aperture therein for engagement by the head, and means for securing the strap to the base.

3. In a device of the character described the combination with a supporting-plate and an ear integral and parallel therewith, of a base mounted between the supporting-plate and ear, a headed extension at one end of the base, a projection upon the extension and an retaining-strap for engagement by the head,

and means for pivotally connecting the strap and base to the ear and supporting-plate.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREW W. GILOHRI ST.

Witnesses:

E. B. SHAFFER, WM. E. GILcHRIs'r. 

